Ignite What Lies Within: Experiencing The World Of Wearableart 2025

At Human Digital, we believe creativity is the spark that drives innovation, whether it’s in marketing or the arts. This September, Ben had the privilege of hosting clients in Wellington for one of New Zealand’s most dazzling cultural highlights: the 2025 World of Wearable Art (WOW) Awards Show.

Held at the TSB Arena, Wellington, from 18 September to 5 October 2025, the WOW Show is described by The Spinoff as “the single most dazzling event of the calendar year.” It’s an unforgettable experience where the boundaries of arena spectacle, live music, dance, aerial choreography, and world-class wearable art are pushed to the extreme. Every performance is a visual feast, designed to spark imagination and leave audiences inspired. And that is exactly what happened at this year’s awards show.

Why WOW Matters

The WOW Show isn’t just a competition; it’s an artistic journey where imagination is set free. Each year, designers from around the globe interpret six themed sections from Aotearoa and Avant-garde to unique annual challenges, bringing forward garments that tell stories through material, texture, and movement.

For Human Digital, it was a chance to connect with clients in a setting that celebrates the same principles we value in our work: bold creativity, boundary-pushing ideas, and storytelling that resonates.

Highlights From the 2025 Awards

Among the many remarkable entries, two winners stood out to Ben as especially inspiring:

Cushla O’Connell – Worn Landscape

Christchurch designer Cushla O’Connell transformed over 6,000 up-cycled buttons into Worn Landscape, a garment that evoked the whimsical spirit of a Hayao Miyazaki world. It earned her the Aotearoa Section Award and the Wētā Workshop Outstanding Design Award.

Her work reminded us of the power of transformation, how something everyday can be reimagined into a story worth telling. It’s a concept we carry into our work with brands, finding new value in overlooked opportunities.

Dawn Mostow & Ben Gould – Tsukumogami

From the United States, the duo Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould won the coveted Supreme WOW Award with Tsukumogami. Inspired by Japanese blue ceramics and the folklore of objects gaining spirit over time, their latex design balanced innovation with deep cultural reverence.

Judges praised it as “radically innovative and future-forward, while at the same time paying exquisite homage to centuries-old artistic and cultural traditions.” It was wearable art at its most profound, reminding us that innovation thrives when it respects heritage.

Beyond the Arena

What makes WOW so special is not just the artistry on stage, but how it transforms a visit to Wellington into a complete cultural getaway. With world-class restaurants, boutique hotels like QT and Sojourn, and a vibrant waterfront only steps from the venue, it’s the perfect excuse to experience the city at its best.

A Night to Remember

For Human Digital, attending WOW 2025 with our clients was about more than the show itself. It was about sharing an unforgettable moment of creativity, building relationships, and celebrating innovation in all its forms.

Just as WOW transforms everyday materials into extraordinary experiences, we’re inspired to help brands transform their digital presence into stories that connect and endure.

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